16. Micaiah
ONE WEEK LATER
“Eris was the one my soul desired, the one who my heart was beating for. I could see me doing this with her for life —but was she ready for me?” –Love No Limit, MJ Stone
“Hey, gorgeous. I’m sorry that I didn’t stick around to see the final look, but I knew you were going to look amazing,” Brooke stated, grabbing Myraj and hugging her before they exchanged air kisses.
Malachi was tugging my hand, ready to be free to play with his cousins. One stern look from me had him settling down.
I had taken Brooke over to Myraj’s place earlier to do her hair and makeup, along with my personal stylist, Nakaria, and her team to dress and accessorize Myraj in whatever she wanted.
She looked gorgeous and fine in a black one-shoulder silk jumpsuit paired with gold, low-heeled sandals, and gold and diamond accessories.
Her belly bump was on full display tonight, but it looked perfect along with her other curves.
Her hair was swept back from her face on one side, and it hung on the other to partially cover her right eye.
Her makeup was natural but accentuated her best features, her cheekbones and her cat eyes.
“Great? She’s stunning, breathtaking, and easily the most beautiful woman here tonight,” I declared.
“You look amazing too, Micaiah. I do love a man in a tux,” she stated with sparkling eyes as she stared at me with a stunning smile.
“Everyone in this place pales in comparison to you,” I replied.
“Micaiah,” Myraj whined.
“Oooh, somebody’s got it bad. But I can see why; she’s freaking hot and sensational!” Brooke declared.
Myraj looked between my sister and me, and her eyes welled up with tears and her bottom lip trembled.
“Oh, honey, don’t cry. You’re going to mess up your makeup,” Brooke declared, grabbing a tissue from her clutch purse and dabbing at Myraj’s eyes.
“Why are you being so good to me?” she asked, turning her gaze to me.
Brooke sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Girl, please. It’s the least you deserve since Micky knocked you up and knocked your emotions out of wack.”
Myraj laughed and wiped her tears away. “Micky?”
“Mhm. Childhood nickname,” Brooke confirmed.
“That’s enough, Brooklyn Denise,” I replied.
She rolled her eyes, but it was Myraj who spoke next. “Thank you. I’m sorry for these tears too. I don’t want to blame it on pregnancy hormones, but I’ve never been a big crier before now. Micaiah, I would have figured something out.”
“No, he’s just doing his job, sis. That’s his responsibility. Isn’t that right, Ayden?” Brooke asked her husband.
“Absolutely,” he replied, dropping a kiss on Brooke’s lips.
“We’re going to finish mingling. I just saw you two walk through the door and wanted to speak. See you later, Micky,” Brooke stated.
As soon as they left our side, I turned to Myraj to clear some things up.
I hated that she felt she should have to figure shit out.
She didn’t need to feel that way as long as I was around.
She had this independent spirit that I respected and admired, but it got in the way of what I wanted to do for her and be for her.
“Listen, don’t ever think you have to figure things out on your own. That’s what I’m here for. I just want you to be happy. You’re the mother of my princess, and you’re a beautiful spirit, Myraj. You deserve the best of everything. Do you understand me?”
“I do,” she replied, smiling shyly at me.
It took everything in me not to grip her chin to kiss her lips. That wasn’t what I was here for, but I wanted it so desperately, just one more taste of her.
“Good. Now, we need to find my parents.”
“There are so many people here,” she declared, looking around.
“Which was why we had it here rather than at someone’s home. There are eight of us, including my parents. Then we all have significant others and kids, my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins on both sides are here, and then they invited their friends.
“It looks like no less than a hundred people,” she stated softly.
“Try two-fifty.” Her eyes widened, and she inhaled. “Take it easy. You’re not here for all of them. There are only two people you need to focus on and that’s these two here,” I declared as my parents approached.
“Hey, my sweet baby boy.” Mama greeted Malachi, bending to kiss and hug him. He giggled before my dad did the same, while Mama stood up to take in Myraj.
“Oh, my goodness, Micaiah. She’s just as beautiful as you and Brooklyn said she was,” Mama declared with a large smile.
She had already taken Myraj’s hands, stared her up and down, and then pulled her into a hug. When she released her, my father grabbed and hugged her, too, as I snatched an impatient Malachi back at my side.
“Please, Daddy!” he begged, pointing at his cousins.
“Chi, behave!” I warned after I’d released his hand.
“I will,” he shouted.
“Leave that child alone,” my mama chided.
“Ma, Dad, this is Myraj, the mother of my daughter. Myraj, these are my parents, Gabriella and Thomas Livingstone.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Myraj. You can call me Gabby,” my mother declared.
“You can call me Bud,” my father stated.
“Bud?”
“I’ve been known as Bud all my life, at least since I was five, and now I’m sixty-seven.”
“Bud it is,” she replied, laughing.
“So, is this your first?” Mama asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Are you excited? Are your parents excited?” Mama asked.
“I’m happy. I’ve been wanting a child for a while now, and my parents are definitely excited. I’m the only girl, so they are overjoyed.”
We talked a little longer about the baby, how far along she was, what we expected, the hospital she chose, and a baby registry before dinner was served.
After we ate, I introduced her to the rest of my family, and then we danced. We would sit out every other song so that I could massage her back and feet. I knew she was tired, but she was a good sport, dancing and mingling with the other guests.
“You want to dance one more time before we leave?” I asked after two hours passed.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
I led her onto the dance floor, and we danced to the instrumental version of Beyoncé’s “Love on Top.”
“Are you enjoying yourself tonight?”
“I am. I’m so glad that you invited me and didn’t let me get in my own way. This is a lot of fun, and your family is so kind and down-to-earth.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re feeling comfortable.”
“I need to introduce you to my family soon.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” I replied against her temple. My hand rested on her lower back, and she fit perfectly with her head tucked underneath my chin. She rested her head against my chest, and we moved as one.
I couldn’t help that I was a romantic—it was who I was, inscribed in my DNA. No matter how much I tried not to want this woman and respect her boundaries, I couldn’t help it. She was all I wanted and dreamed about.
“You’re the most beautiful woman here tonight.”
“Thank you,” she replied softly as she looked up into my eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“I am, just tired,” she replied, yawning.
“All right. Let me find my parents and say goodbye.”
I led her around the room until we found them and said our goodbyes. Malachi was staying overnight with Dawn, so I left him in the conference center after I’d kissed him good night.
“Where are we going?” she asked after we took a right upon exiting the ballroom doors and headed toward the bank of elevators.
I smiled at her as I pressed the button and then sent a text on my phone. “To get you someplace you can rest.”
“You got a room here?” she asked in disbelief, resting her hand on top of her belly.
“I did.”
When we arrived at our floor and stepped out, she gasped. “You got us the penthouse suite?”
“Everything that I do, I do it in comfort and luxury. Tonight, I want you to rest in luxury and be comfortable,” I replied as we stepped into the suite.
“Micaiah, ooh.” Her eyes filled with tears as she looked around at the vases of roses, tulips, and hibiscus all around the living area.
I had staged a romantic atmosphere with candles lighting a path from the living area to the balcony and bedroom, and soft jazz music playing on speakers in both the living area and bedroom.
“It’s romantic, but weren’t you worried you’d start a fire?”
“Nah, Nakaria has been up here for the last fifteen minutes waiting for my text. She lit them and left as we were walking to the elevators downstairs.”
“You thought of everything.”
“I thought of you.”
“I didn’t pack a bag.”
“Nakaria bought everything you would need: nightclothes, loungewear, clothes for tomorrow, underclothes, and grooming supplies. They’re all in the bedroom.”
“Wow, you really did think of everything.”
“Nah, just you,” I replied, staring into her eyes.
She looked away nervously, cleared her throat, and walked to the balcony doors that had a magnificent view of Downtown Cherokee Springs and the falls.
“Micaiah, this view is unbelievable!” she exclaimed over her shoulder as I followed her.
I leaned against the doorframe, shoved my hands in my pockets, and replied, “I know.”
“Were you thinking about that when you rented this room for the night?” she asked.
“Not at all.”
Her hands gripped the railing, and she turned back to look at me. I pushed off the doorframe and walked toward her. She spun around, and her eyes were wide.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“What I’ve wanted to do all night.” I gripped her chin between my fingers and lowered my lips to hers. They were just as sweet, plump, and soft as I recalled. She moaned and grabbed the collar of my dress shirt between her fingers.
I deepened the kiss while she worked on unbuttoning my shirt before she tried to snatch it off. I laughed. “Slow up. I have to remove my jacket first.”
“What are you waiting for?”
“Someone’s in need.”
“God, you have no idea the hunger you stirred in me that weekend. I haven’t been able to satiate that hunger since then.”
“Oh, I’ve got an idea. It’s the same one you stirred in me.”’
“Thought I’d become a virgin again after you.”
I tugged her bottom lip down, licked inside of her mouth, and pressed my forehead against hers. “What are you telling me, Myraj?”
“That you were my first and only, and all those dildos and vibrators can’t hold a candle to you.”
“Fuck.” I lifted her and carried her back into the living room. I stood her in front of the couch, ripped the jumpsuit off, and found pleasure in her surprised “Micaiah!” before I placed her on the couch. I slid her toward the edge of the couch as I positioned myself between those beautiful thighs.
My fingers slid her panties aside, and I slid my tongue between her moist folds.
“Oh, shit! Micaiah! Yes! It’s been so long, too long!”
I slid my fingers deeper into her depths, while I puckered my lips around her clitoris and sucked. Her back arched, and she gyrated her hips while she threw that pussy at me. I was down for giving her everything that she asked for.